1st Earl of Belmore

Lineage of Corry

JOHN CORRY, former provost of Dumfries in Scotland, settled, in 1639, at Tullynagardy, in the Ards, County Down.

The Corrys were probably well-known in Newtownards during the 17th and 18th centuries: Another John Corry (1771-1851), a farmer, married Susan White. They farmed at Concord Farm, Tullynagardy, built about 1800, but beside ruins ca 300 years old.

Later in life he established a timber business in Belfast called Corry & Montgomery, in 1814, and it was the foundation of the James P Corry & Company in 1814. John moved to Ballyalton House, beneath Scrabo Hill, after he gave the Tullynagardy farm to his daughter Mary, born in 1794. They called it Concord Farm. John Corry and his wife Susan had eight children.

Yet another branch established the Corry's Star Shipping line. They owned Scrabo Quarries and helped to build early Belfast. One of their ships was named the Jane Porter. Robert Corry is remembered as having introduced Scrabo Stone to Ireland as a building material.

He started the firm originally as building contractors and became a great timber merchant; and he founded a major shipping line. 

The original John Corry was appointed a freeman of Belfast in 1654.

Corry spent only a brief period in Belfast and Lisburn before purchasing lands in County Fermanagh.

Corry thrived and, in 1646, bought the Coole estate from Roger Atkinson for £860.

Its extent was about 4,576 acres.

He married Blanch Johnston and had a son,

COLONEL JAMES CORRY (1634-1718), of Castle Coole, MP for Fermanagh, 1692-1718, High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1671, and County Monaghan, 1677, who married firstly, in 1663, Sarah, daughter of Oliver Anketell, of Anketell Grove, County Monaghan, and had, with other issue,

JOHN, of whom presently.

He wedded secondly, 1683, Lucy, daughter of Henry Mervyn, of Trillick, without further issue.

Colonel Corry was succeeded by his only son,

COLONEL JOHN CORRY (1667-1726), of Castle Coole, MP for Enniskillen, 1711-13, County Fermanagh, 1719-26, High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1711, who espoused, in 1701-2, Sarah, third daughter and co-heir of William Leslie, of Prospect, County Antrim, and had issue,

LESLIE, of Castle Coole;

Martha, m Captain Edmund Leslie;

SARAH, m Galbraith Lowry; mother of Armar, 1st Earl of Belmore;

Mary; Elizabeth.

Lineage of Lowry

JAMES LOWRY or LAURIE (who is said to have been of the family of Laurie of Maxwelton), moved from Scotland to Ulster during the 17th century, settled at Ballymagorry, County Tyrone, before 1641, and died intestate 1665.

He was succeeded by his son,

JOHN LOWRY (1609-89), of Aghenis, County Tyrone, who married firstly, Mary, daughter of James Buchanan, and by her had, with other issue,

ROBERT, of whom presently.

He wedded secondly, Jane, daughter of William Hamilton, of Ballyfatten, and by her had further issue.

He was present with his second wife at the siege of Derry, where he died in 1689.

His eldest son,

ROBERT LOWRY, of Aghenis, one of the Commissioners for the counties of Armagh and Tyrone, 1698, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1707-8 and 1719, espoused Anna, daughter of the Rev John Sinclair, of Holyhill, County Tyrone, by Anna Galbraith, and died in 1729, having had issue,

Robert, dsp;
GALBRAITH;
James (Rev), founded the branch seated at Pomeroy House.

Robert Lowry (Image: National Trust, Castle Coole)

The second son and eventual heir,


GALBRAITH LOWRY-CORRY (1706-69), of Aghenis, MP for County Tyrone, 1748-68, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1733, and County Monaghan, 1743.

He assumed, 1764, on the death of his sister-in-law Martha, wife of Edmund Leslie-Corry MP, the additional surname and arms of CORRY.

Galbraith Lowry-Corry MP (Image: The National Trust)

He wedded, in 1733, Sarah, second daughter and eventual co-heir of Colonel John Corry MP, of Castle Coole, and had issue,

ARMAR, his successor;
Anne, m William, 1st Earl of Enniskillen.

Mr Lowry-Corry was succeeded by his son,

ARMAR LOWRY-CORRY (1740-1802), MP for County Tyrone, 1768-81, who assumed the additional surname and arms of CORRY.

Mr Lowry-Corry was elevated to the peerage, in 1781, in the dignity of Baron Belmore, of Castle Coole, County Fermanagh.

1st Earl of Belmore (Image: the National Trust)

His lordship was advanced to a viscountcy, in 1789, as Viscount Belmore; and further advanced, in 1797, to the dignity of an earldom, as EARL OF BELMORE.

He espoused, in 1772, the Lady Margaret Butler, eldest daughter of Somerset, 1st Earl of Carrick, by whom he had an only surviving child,

SOMERSET, styled Viscount Corry.

His lordship married secondly, in 1780, Harriet, eldest daughter and co-heir of John, 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, by whom he had an only daughter, Louisa Mary Anne, who wedded, in 1804, George, 6th Earl of Sandwich.

He married thirdly, in 1794, Mary Anne, daughter of Sir John Caldwell Bt, but by her had no issue.

His lordship was succeeded by his son and heir,

SOMERSET, 2nd Earl (1774-1841), MP for County Tyrone, 1797-1800, Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief of Jamaica, 1828-32, who wedded, in 1800, the Lady Juliana Butler, daughter of Henry, 2nd Earl of Carrick, and had issue,

ARMAR, his successor;
Henry Thomas;
Sarah.

2nd Earl of Belmore (Image: the National Trust)

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

ARMAR, 3rd Earl (1801-45), High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1832, who espoused, in 1834, Emily Louise, daughter of William Shepherd, and had issue,

SOMERSET RICHARD, his successor;
Armar, grandfather of 7th Earl;
Frederick Cecil George;
Henry William.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

SOMERSET RICHARD, 4th Earl (1835-1913), GCMG PC JP, Governor of New South Wales, 1868-72, who married, in 1861, Anne Elizabeth Honoria, daughter of Captain John Neilson Gladstone, and had issue,

ARMAR, his successor;
CECIL, 6th Earl;
Ernest;
Theresa; Florence; Madeline; Mary; Winifred; Edith; Violet; Margaret; Dorothy; Kathleen.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

ARMAR, 5th Earl (1870-1948), JP DL, High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1901, Captain, Inniskilling Fusiliers, who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his brother,

CECIL, 6th Earl (1873-1949), JP DL, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1916, High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1922, who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his cousin,

GALBRAITH ARMAR, 7th Earl (1913-60), JP DL, Major, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who married, in 1939, Gloria Anthea, daughter of Herbert Bryant Harker, and had issue,

JOHN ARMAR, his successor;
Anthea Geraldine (the Lady Anthea Forde);
Sarah Lilian.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

JOHN, 8th and present Earl (1951-), of the Garden House, Castle Coole, who married, in 1984, the Lady Mary Jane Meade, daughter of John, 6th Earl of Clanwilliam, and has issue,

JOHN ARMAR GALBRAITH, styled Viscount Corry;
Montagu Gilford George;
Martha Catherine.

I have written an article about the Lowrys of Pomeroy here.

As 1st Earl of Belmore, Armar Lowry-Corry's three names represented the three components of his future inheritance: Armar, the valuable church-lands in Fermanagh; Lowry, his paternal estate in Tyrone; and Corry, the remainder of his Fermanagh estate and his country seat.

Belmore Mountain - or Mount Belmore - is a hill in west County Fermanagh.

 I've written about the 8th and present Earl.

In 1852 the Fermanagh estate amounted to 7,140 acres in addition to the 14,900 acres of church-land leased from the Lord Bishop of Clogher; while the Tyrone lands comprised 41,448 acres.

The Belmore estates also encompassed counties Monaghan, Longford, Armagh and Dublin. This amounted, in all, to 72,715 acres.

In 1789 the gross rentals were as follows: Fermanagh church-lands £2,700; Fermanagh estate £1,400; Longford estate plus miscellaneous small properties £1,565; and Tyrone estate £7,130: giving a total rental of £12,795. By 1800 this had increased to £16,645.

The income generated by the estates allowed Castle Coole to be constructed at a cost of £57,000 in 1798, equivalent to approximately £20 million today.

The Belmores were one of the most powerful and influential landed families of their time.

Apart from their County Fermanagh seat, the palatial Castle Coole, the Belmores had a London house at 56 Eaton Place.

The family today live at the Garden House in the grounds of Castle Coole.

First published in December, 2009.  Belmore arms courtesy of the NLI.

1st Viscount Strangford

The family of SMYTHE is descended from an ancient family which was long seated at Corsham, in Wiltshire, whose arms were azure, an escutcheon argent, surrounded by six lions rampant or, as appeared by a seal then 200 years old, exhibited to the heralds at the visitation of Wiltshire, 1620, which coat was allowed to the younger branches.

JOHN SMYTHE, of Corsham, Wiltshire, living during the reign of HENRY VIII, married Joan, daughter of Robert Brouncker, of Melksham.

He died in 1538, leaving issue,

JOHN;
THOMAS, of whom presently;
Henry;
Robert;
Richard;
Ann; Jane; Elizabeth.

The second son,

THOMAS SMYTHE (1522-91), left Corsham and seated himself at Osterhanger, Kent.

This gentleman was farmer of the customs, or customer, in the reign of ELIZABETH I, by which he amassed considerable wealth.

He wedded Alice, daughter and heiress of Sir Andrew Judde, by whom he acquired the manor of Ashford; and left, with other issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Thomas (Sir), Ambassador to Russia, 1604.

The eldest son,

SIR JOHN SMYTHE (1557-1608), Knight, of Osterhanger and Ashford, espoused, in 1578, Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of John Fineux, of Hawhouse, Kent (son of Sir John Fineux), and had issue,

THOMAS, his heir;
Katherine; Elizabeth.

His only son,

SIR THOMAS SMYTHE KB (1599-1635), of Ostenhanger, and of Ashford, Kent, having inherited a considerable fortune from his father, "being a person of distinguished merit and opulent fortune", was appointed a Knight of the Bath at the coronation of CHARLES I, in 1625-6.

Sir Thomas was elevated to the peerage, in 1628, in the dignity of VISCOUNT STRANGFORD, of Strangford, County Down.

He married, about 1621, the Lady Barbara Sydney, daughter of Robert, 1st Earl of Leicester KG, and niece of the ever-memorable Sir Philip Sydney, and had issue,

PHILIP, his successor;
Barbara; Elizabeth; Philippa; Dorothy.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

PHILIP, 2nd Viscount, (1634-1708), who wedded firstly, in 1650, his cousin, the Lady Isabella Sydney, daughter of Robert, 2nd Earl of Leicester, by which lady he had issue, a daughter, Diana; and secondly, Mary, daughter of George Porter, groom of the bedchamber to CHARLES I, by whom he had issue,

ENDYMION, his successor;
Elizabeth; Olivia; Katherine Clare.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

ENDYMION, 3rd Viscount, who married, ca 1710, Anne Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Monsieur Jean Largot ca 1710.

He died in 1724, and was succeeded by his only son,

THE VERY REV PHILIP, 4th Viscount (1715-87), Dean of Derry, who espoused, in 1741, Mary, daughter of Anthony Jephson MP, of Mallow, County Cork; and was succeeded by his only son,

LIONEL, 5th Viscount (1753-1801), who entered early in life into the Army, and distinguished himself in North America.

He subsequently took holy orders and became a clergyman of the established church: Rector of Kilbrew, County Meath, 1788-1801; Prebendary of St Patrick's, Dublin, 1790-1801.

His lordship married, in 1779, Maria Eliza, eldest daughter of Frederick Philips, of Philipsburg, New York, and had issue,

PERCY CLINTON SYDNEY, his successor;
Eliza Maria Sydney.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son, 

PERCY CLINTON SYDNEY, 6th Viscount (1780-1855), GCB GCH PC, and Baron Penshurst, of Penshurst, Kent, who wedded, in 1817, Ellen, youngest daughter of Sir Thomas Burke Bt, of Marble Hill, and had issue,

GEORGE AUGUSTUS FREDERICK PERCY SYDNEY, his successor;

PERCY ELLEN ALGERNON FREDERICK WILLIAM SYDNEY, 8th Viscount;

Ellen Sydney; Philippa Eliza Sydney.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

GEORGE AUGUSTUS FREDERICK PERCY SYDNEY, 7th Viscount (1818-57), MP for Canterbury, 1841-52, who wedded, in 1857, Margaret Cunningham, daughter of John Lennox Kincaid Lennox, though the marriage was without issue.

7th Viscount Strangford. Photo Credit: The National Trust

His lordship was succeeded in the family honours by his brother,

PERCY ELLEN ALGERNON FREDERICK WILLIAM SYDNEY, 8th Viscount (1825-69), who espoused, in 1862, Emily Anne, daughter of Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort KCB.

8th Viscount Strangford (Image: Merton College, Oxford)

The 8th Viscount died without issue, in 1869, when the title expired.

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A Selection from the Writings of Viscount Strangford on Political, Geographical and Social Subjects was edited by his widow and published in 1869. His Original Letters and Papers upon Philology and Kindred Subjects were also edited by Lady Strangford (1878).

*****

Before moving to Ashford, John Smythe had made a fortune importing wine from Spain into the port of Bristol.

John’s son, Customer Thomas Smythe, was a major financial player in England.

Customer Smythe developed the very first stock company to spread risk and advance exploration with the Moscovy Company to find a northern route to East Asia above Russia.

He became Lord of the Manor of Ashford, Kent.

When Customer Smythe died, his eldest son, John, managed their vast holdings and investments in the various exploration companies.

Customer Smythe also invested in the profitable Drake voyages with a kinsman, Admiral William Wynter, one of the first English admirals.

The Smythes previously purchased or built a very large mansion on Philpot Street, adjacent to Fenchurch Street, London, from where they managed their various investments, and were front and centre in the various investments that later followed such as the Levant Company, Bermuda Company, The Virginia Company of London, and The North West Company.

The Smythes were also involved as Undertakers during the Plantation of Ulster.

John Smythe, the eldest son of Customer Smythe, was managing the family fortune and he resided at Ashford Manor and/or their other estate at Westenhanger.

In 1603, Robert Sydney was Lord Chamberlain for the household of Queen Anne of Denmark, consort of JAMES I.

Robert Mansell of Mount Desert (E), who was knighted at Cadiz where a brother of Thomas Smythe was killed, married a Lady in Waiting to Queen Anne.

The bride was the daughter of John Roper of Kent. Captain William Roper of the Eastern Shore had married the sister of Captain William Eppes, and the Ropers held land at Ivychurch.

Robert Sydney’s daughter married the nephew of Robert Mansell, and another of Sydney’s daughters, Barbara, married the son of the elder son, John Smythe of Ashford.

His name was also Thomas, and he held the title Viscount Strangford.

First published in January, 2011. 

1st Earl of Erne

THE EARLS OF ERNE WERE THE SECOND LARGEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY FERMANAGH, WITH 31,389 ACRES

THURSTANUS DE CRICHTON, the first of the name appearing on record, was a witness to the foundation charter of the Abbacy of Holyrood House, in 1128.

WILLIAM DE CRICHTON, Lord of Crichton in 1240, had issue, a son,

THOMAS DE CRICHTON, one of the great Barons who swore fealty to EDWARD I of England, in 1296.

He died ca 1300, leaving issue by Eda his wife,

NICHOLAS, of whom presently;

William, ancestor of the Barons Crichton, and the Earls of Dumfries;

Thomas, Burgess of Berwick.

The eldest son,

NICHOLAS DE CRICHTON, living during the time of Robert Bruce, left issue, a son,

SIR JOHN DE CRICHTON, Lord of Crichton ca 1340; who died ca 1358, leaving issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;

John.

The elder son,

SIR WILLIAM DE CRICHTON, had a grant of the lands of West Brunston in Penicuik, confirmed in 1373.

Sir William had issue,

John, of Crichton, ancestor of the Viscounts Frendraught;

Stephen, of Carnis;

Thomas;

EDWARD, of whom we treat.

The youngest son,

EDWARD CRICHTON, of Brunston, and Gilbertoun, living in 1419 and 1425, died in 1447, leaving a son,

THOMAS CRICHTON, of Brunston, living in 1450, who died 1456, leaving issue,

George, of Brunston;

JOHN, of whom we treat.

The younger son,

JOHN CRICHTON, of Brunston and Daltonwick, succeeded his brother, and died in 1487, leaving issue,

EDWARD, his heir;

John.

The elder son,

EDWARD CRICHTON, of Brunston, married Agnes Cockburn, daughter of the Laird of Ormiston, and died 1506, when he was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

JOHN CRICHTON, of Brunston, who wedded Janet, daughter of Sir Alexander Hamilton, of Innerwick, East Lothian, and died in 1536, having had issue, a son,

ALEXANDER CRICHTON, of Brunston,

A zealous promoter of the reformed religion, at first the supporter, but afterwards the resolute opponent of Cardinal Beaton, was employed in many diplomatic and secret missions. He was a leading protector of Wishart. He was attainted in 1548, but the attainder was reversed 1558. 

He wedded, before 1530, Janet, daughter of John Pennycuke of that ilk, and died before 1558, having had issue, a son,

JOHN CRICHTON, of Brunston, and of Stany Hill, who sold his estates in 1597.

He espoused Margaret Adamson, daughter of the Laird of Graycrook, near Edinburgh, and died before 1604, having had issue, four sons, of whom,

James, settled at Aghalane Castle, Co Fermanagh, before 1616;

ABRAHAM, of whom we treat.

The youngest son,

ABRAHAM CREICHTON, of Drumboory, near Devenish Island, on Lough Erne, settled in Ulster before 1616, and died before 1631, leaving issue, by Nicholas [sic], his wife,

ABRAHAM, his heir;

Jane; Elizabeth.

The only son,

ABRAHAM CREIGHTOUN (ante 1631-1705), of Drumboory, and afterwards jure uxoris, of Crom Castle, High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1673, MP for County Fermanagh, 1692-3, Enniskillen, 1695-9,

Was celebrated for his successful defence of Crom Castle, against King James's army. The first siege took place in 1689; the second in July following. He was in command of his regiment at the battle of Aughrim, County Galway, in 1691. 

Colonel Creighton married, in 1655, Mary, daughter of the Rt Rev James Spottiswood, Lord Bishop of Clogher, and Elizabeth Staunton his second wife, and widow of Thomas Perkins, of Lifford.

With her he obtained Crom Castle on Lough Erne, which had been granted, in 1624, to Bishop Spottiswood.

Colonel Creighton died in 1705, having had, with other issue,

James;

Abraham;

DAVID, of whom we treat;

Jane; Marianna.

The youngest son,

DAVID CREIGHTON (c1670-1728), of Crom Castle, celebrated for his gallant defence, in 1689, of the family seat of Crom Castle, against a large body of the Royal Army (JAMES II's).

Having repulsed the assailants, young Creighton made a sally, at the instant that a corps of Enniskilleners was approaching to the relief of the castle, which movement placed the besiegers between two fires, and caused dreadful slaughter. The enemy attempting to accomplish his retreat across an arm of Lough Erne, near Crom Castle, that spot became the scene of such carnage, that it bore the name of the "Bloody Pass". 

This gentleman represented Enniskillen in parliament, and attaining the rank of major-general in the army, was appointed governor of the Royal Hospital of Kilmainham.

He wedded, ante 1695, Katherine, second daughter of Richard Southwell, of Castle Mattress, County Limerick, and sister of 1st Lord Southwell, and had issue,

ABRAHAM, his heir;

Meliora.

Major-General Creichton, MP for Augher, 1695-9, Lifford, 1703-28, was succeeded by his only surviving son,

ABRAHAM CREIGHTON (c1700-72), MP for Lifford, 1727-68, who was elevated to the peerage, in 1768, in the dignity of Baron Erne, of Crom Castle.

His lordship espoused Elizabeth, eldest daughter of  John Rogerson, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench in Ireland, and had issue,

David, died young;
JOHN, his successor;
Abraham;
Meliora; Charlotte; Mary.

He married secondly, in 1762, Jane, only daughter of John King, of Charlestown, County Roscommon, and widow of Arthur Acheson.

His lordship was succeeded by his elder surviving son,

JOHN, 2nd Baron (1731-1828), who was created, 1781, Viscount Erne; and advanced to the dignity of an earldom, in 1789, as EARL OF ERNE.

His lordship wedded firstly, in 1761, Catherine, 2nd daughter of the Rt Rev Robert Howard, Lord Bishop of Elphin, and sister of the Viscount Wicklow, and had issue,

ABRAHAM, his successor;
John;
Elizabeth; Catherine.

He espoused secondly, in 1776, the Lady Mary Hervey, eldest daughter FREDERICK AUGUSTUS, EARL OF BRISTOL, LORD BISHOP OF DERRY, and had an only daughter, Elizabeth Caroline Mary, who wedded James Archibald, Lord Wharncliffe.

His lordship was succeeded by his son and heir,

ABRAHAM, 2nd Earl (1765-1842), MP for Lifford, 1790-97, who changed the spelling of the family name to CRICHTON.

He died unmarried, and was succeeded by his nephew,

JOHN, 3rd Earl (1802-85), KP, who wedded, in 1837, Selina Griselda, daughter of the Rev Charles Cobbe Beresford, and had issue,

JOHN HENRY, his successor;
Charles Frederick;
Henry George Louis (Sir), KCB;
Louisa Anne Catherine.

His lordship was installed a Knight of St Patrick in 1868.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN HENRY, 4th Earl (1839-1914), KP PC, who wedded, in 1870, the Lady Florence Mary Cole, daughter of William Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Enniskillen, and had issue,

Henry William, MVO, DSO, dvp;
George Arthur Charles (Sir), GCVO;
Arthur Owen;
James Archibald, DSO;
Evelyn Louisa Selina;
Mabel Florence Mary, MBE.

His lordship was appointed a Knight of St Patrick in 1889.

4th Earl of Erne KP

He was succeeded by his grandson,

JOHN HENRY GEORGE, 5th Earl (1907-40), DL, who espoused, in 1931, the Lady Davidema Katharine Cynthia Mary Millicent Bulwer-Lytton, daughter of Victor, 2nd Earl of Lytton, and had issue,

HENRY GEORGE VICTOR JOHN, his successor;
Rosanagh Mary; Antonia Pamela Mary.

His lordship, a Page of Honour to GEORGE V, 1921-24, and Lord-in-Waiting to GEORGE VI, was killed in action in France during the 2nd World War.

• John Henry George Crichton, 5th Earl (1907–40);

• Henry George Victor John Crichton, 6th Earl (1937–2015);

• John Henry Michael Ninian Crichton, 7th Earl (b 1971).

The heir presumptive is the 4th earl's great-grandson, Charles David Blayney Crichton (b 1953), and his son, Oliver Charles Martin Crichton (b 1995), heir apparent.

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Crom Castle is the ancestral seat of the Earls of Erne.

Crom Estate, however, has been a property of the National Trust since 1988.

The name Crom is correctly pronounced "Crum", as in bread-crumb.

The 6th Earl, who died on the 23rd December, 2015, is survived by wife Anna, Countess of Erne, and his son and four daughters: John, 7th Earl; Lady Cleone; Lady Davina; Lady Katherine; and Lady Tara.

6th Earl of Erne KCVO

The 6th Earl retired as HM Lord-Lieutenant for County Fermanagh on the 9th July, 2012, having served 25 years in office.

One of his final official engagements was to welcome Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to the county during Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee tour, on the 26th June, 2012.

CROM CASTLE, near Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh, is a large castellated mansion combining baronial and Tudor-Revival elements.

It was built in 1829 to the design of Edward Blore (who also completed the design of Buckingham Palace).

I visited the Castle about thirty years ago and remember the indoor swimming-pool, which was adjacent to the conservatory.

Although remote, Crom is one of my favourite places in Northern Ireland; I always relish revisiting it.

I stayed on the estate several times during the 1980s.

In those days, if my memory serves me correctly, the family had a golden retriever called Boomer which visited us at our cottage occasionally.

*****

The then housekeeper, Mrs Johnston, was a well-known tea-leaf reader in the vicinity.

One night there was a knock on the door. It was a man inquiring if we read "tea"in a local accent.

At first we were puzzled and uncomprehending as to what he meant; later, however, we discovered Mrs Johnston's talented gift! 

Former London residence ~ 19, Cavendish Avenue, St John's Wood, NW8.

First published December, 2009.

1st Baron Trevor

THE BARONS TREVOR WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY DOWN, WITH 11,010 ACRES

JOHN AP DAVID, of Brynkinalt, Denbighshire, descended from TUDOR TREVOR, assumed the surname of TREVOR, married Agnes, daughter and heiress of Peter Cambre, and had, with other issue,

ROBERT, his heir;

Richard, ancestor of the extinct Lords Trevor, Viscounts Hampden.

The eldest son,

ROBERT TREVOR, of Brynkinalt, wedded Katherine, daughter and heiress of Llewellyn ap Ithel, of Mold and Plasteg, Flintshire, and was ancestor of TREVOR, of Brynkinalt, whose representative,

SIR EDWARD TREVOR (c1580-1642), Knight, of Brynkinalt, espoused firstly, Anne Balle, and secondly, Rose, daughter of the Most Rev Henry Ussher DD, Lord Archbishop of Armagh, and was succeeded by his eldest son by his first wife,

JOHN TREVOR, of Brynkinalt, who married Margaret, daughter of John Jeffreys, of Acton, Denbighshire, and had, with an elder son, Edward (dsp), a successor,

THE RT HON SIR JOHN TREVOR (c1637-1717), Knight, of Brynkinalt, Speaker of the House of Commons, who wedded Jane, daughter of Sir Roger Mostyn Bt, of Mostyn, and had issue,

EDWARD, dsp;

Arthur, dsp;

John, dsp;

Tudor, dsp;

ANNE, of whom presently.

The only daughter,

ANNE TREVOR, espoused firstly, the Rt Hon Michael Hill MP, of Hillsborough, County Down; and secondly, in 1716, 1st Viscount Midleton, Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

Anne, Viscountess Midleton, died in 1747, leaving by her first husband two sons,

TREVOR, created VISCOUNT HILLSBOROUGH, ancestor of the Marquesses of Downshire, and of the Lords Trevor;

ARTHUR, who succeeded to the Brynkinalt estates, and was created VISCOUNT DUNGANNON.

Sir John died in 1717, and was succeeded on the extinction of his heirs male by his grandson,

ARTHUR HILL-TREVOR (c1694-1771),  of Brynkinalt, 1st Viscount Dungannon, MP for County Down, 1727, who succeeded to the estates of his maternal grandfather, and assumed, 1759, the name of TREVOR.

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ARTHUR HILL-TREVOR, 3RD VISCOUNT DUNGANNON (on whose death the viscountcy became extinct), this branch of the Hill family succeeded to the Trevor and Dungannon estates.

By arrangement, parts of the estates, including Brynkinalt in Denbighshire, passed to Lord Edwin, who assumed, by royal license, the additional surname of TREVOR.

Lord Edwin was elevated to the peerage, in 1880, in the dignity of BARON TREVOR, of Brynkinalt, Denbighshire (third creation).

His lordship married firstly, in 1848, Mary Emily, daughter of Sir Richard Sutton, 2nd Baronet.

After her death, in 1855, he married secondly, in 1858, Mary Catherine, daughter of the Rev and Hon Alfred Curzon. 

The Trevors owned a further 8,372 acres in County Antrim, 1,219 in County Armagh, 1,743 in Shropshire, 954 in Flintshire, and 396 acres in Denbighshire.

 1st Baron Trevor (third creation).
Image: Camille Silvy/NPG, 1861

Lord Trevor died in 1894, aged 75, and was succeeded by his son from his first marriage, the Hon Arthur Hill-Trevor.

Lady Trevor died in 1912.

• Arthur William Hill-Trevor, 2nd Baron Trevor (1852–1923);
• Charles Edward Hill-Trevor, 3rd Baron Trevor (1863–1950);
• Charles Edwin Hill-Trevor, 4th Baron Trevor (1928–97);
• Marke Charles Hill-Trevor, 5th Baron Trevor (b 1970).

The Trevor Family has a rich and illustrious lineage: They remained loyal to the Crown throughout the Civil War and, in 1662, Mark Trevor was created Viscount Dungannon by CHARLES II for gallantry in wounding Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Marston Moor.

Upon his death, the house and estates passed to the Rt Hon Sir John Trevor.

In 1717, his daughter Anne, the only surviving child, inherited Brynkinalt and estates.

Anne Trevor’s first marriage was to the Rt Hon Michael Hill MP, ancestor of the Marquess of Downshire.

Anne was a direct ancestor of the present Lord Trevor.

In the 18th century, Anne Trevor and Michael Hill’s second son, Arthur Hill, inherited the Brynkinalt Estates and was created Viscount Dungannon of the 2nd Creation.

On the death of Lord Dungannon in 1771, the title passed to Lord Dungannon’s grandson, Arthur Hill-Trevor.

Arthur, 2nd Viscount Dungannon (of 2nd Creation), married Charlotte, daughter of the 1st Baron Southampton.

It was under Lady Dungannon’s imaginative hands that the original Jacobean house, together with its early 18th Century wings and open courtyard, was transformed into the present design.

In addition to creating the Great Hall and re-aligning and re-designing the north front of the house, Charlotte created the original formal and informal gardens.

In 1819, Lord Edwin Hill succeeded to the Brynkinalt estate.

He was persuaded by the Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, to accept a peerage and was thus created Baron Trevor in 1880.

Today the Brynkinalt Estate is managed by the Hon Iain Robert Hill-Trevor, younger brother of the 5th Lord Trevor, and his wife Kate, who have made Brynkinalt Hall their family home.

Belvoir Park, Newtownbreda, County Down, was a seat of the Viscounts Dungannon.

I have written about Belvoir House here.

First published in July, 2010.  Trevor arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

1st Baron Maguire

The Maguires supplied Chiefs or Princes to Fermanagh from about 1264. They were inaugurated at Cornashee, a mound near Lisnaskea.

The Maguires possessed all of Fermanagh, hence called "Maguire's Country;"  and maintained their independence as Lords of Fermanagh until the reign of JAMES I, when their lands were confiscated like other parts of Ulster; but CONNOR ROE MAGUIRE obtained re-grants of 12,000 acres of the forfeited lands of his ancestors. His successors were created BARONS MAGUIRE.

Historic map of the mound at Cornashee circa 1830 (OSNI)

THOMAS MOR MAGUIRE (c1375-1430), Lord or Prince of Fermanagh, chief of the house of MAGUIRE, married Margaret, daughter of Con O'Neill, Prince of Tyrone, and had issue,

Philip, m Deborah Blennerhassett (née Mervyn);
THOMAS, of whom we treat.

The second or, according to some, elder son,

THOMAS OGE MAGUIRE, Prince of Fermanagh, died in 1480.

Maguire arms credit: NLI

His lineal descendant, 

SIR BRYAN MAGUIRE (c1589-1633), Knight, was elevated to the peerage by CHARLES II in 1628, in the dignity of BARON MAGUIRE, of Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, with limitation of the dignity to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten.

He wedded Rose, daughter of Art O'Neill, of Carrickastickan, County Armagh, and sister of Owen Roe O'Neill, and had issue,

CONOR, his heir;
Rory, a colonel in the army.

His lordship was buried in Aghavea, County Fermanagh.

The elder son,

CONOR, 2nd Baron (1616-45), was one of the chief leaders in the rebellion of 1641, and one of its chief victims.

He was tried for high treason in London, 1644, and being found guilty, was hanged at Tyburn.

With him, the title became attainted.

He had espoused Mary, daughter of Thomas Fleming, of Castle Fleming, King's County, and had a son.

ROGER MAGUIRE (c1641-1708), who, but for the attainder of 1641, would have been 5th Baron Maguire, elder son and heir of the Hon Rory (or Roger) Maguire, by his wife Deborah, widow of Sir Leonard Blennerhassett, daughter of Sir Henry Mervyn; succeeded his father in 1648; and had summons to the Irish Parliament which met in Dublin, in 1689, as Baron Maguire, of Enniskillen, and took his seat accordingly.

He was Lord-Lieutenant of County Fermanagh, 1689; and Colonel of an infantry regiment raised by himself, with which he was present at the battle of Aughrim, 12th July, 1691.

Colonel Maguire wedded Mary, daughter of Philip MacHugh O'Reilly, and had issue,

ALEXANDER, his successor;

Bryan Oge;

Rose; Marion; Catherine.

The elder son,

ALEXANDER MAGUIRE, a lieutenant-colonel in Cuconaght Maguire's regiment, retired to France, where he died without an heir after 1719, when the male issue of his father became extinct.

The title, however, continued to be assumed, as under:-

PHILIP MAGUIRE, but for the attainder of 1641, 7th Baron Maguire, uncle and male heir, married Mary, sister of Brigadier-General Gordon O'Neill, and daughter of Sir Phelim O'Neill.

THEOPHILUS or THOMAS MAGUIRE, but for the attainder 8th Baron, son and heir, espoused Margaret, daughter of _________ O'Donnell, of Tyrconnel.

ALEXANDER MAGUIRE (1721-), but for the attainder 9th Baron, entered the French army as Lieutenant Réformé in the Irish infantry regiment of Berwick, 1740; retired on half-pay, 1763; Knight of Saint Louis, 1763.

Several of the Maguire family, many of whom were in foreign service, assumed and were styled Lords Maguire.

John O'Donovan has written an article about the Maguires of Fermanagh here.

Maguire arms courtesy of European Heraldry.  First published in January, 2011.

1st Viscount Charlemont

Armorial bearings of 1st Earl of Charlemont KP

THE VISCOUNTS CHARLEMONT WERE THE GREATEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY ARMAGH, WITH 20,695 ACRES 

The settlement of this noble family in Ireland took place in the reign of ELIZABETH I, when THE RT HON SIR TOBY CAULFEILD (1565-1627), a distinguished and gallant soldier, was employed in that part of Her Majesty's dominions against the formidable Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone.

This gentleman was the son of Alexander Caulfeild, Recorder of Oxford, who was descended from ancestors of great antiquity and worth settled in that county, and at Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire.

In 1615, Sir Toby was appointed one of the council for the province of Munster. The next year, 1616, he joined in commission with the Lord Deputy of Ireland (Oliver St John, 1st Viscount Grandison), and others, for parcelling out the escheated lands in Ulster to such British undertakers as were named in the several tables of assignation.

In these employments, the King (JAMES I) found him so faithful, diligent, and prudent, that His Majesty deemed him highly deserving the peerage, and accordingly created him, in 1620, Lord Caulfeild, Baron Charlemont, with limitation of the honour to his nephew, Sir William Caulfeild, Knight.

His lordship died unmarried, in 1627, and was succeeded by the said 

SIR WILLIAM CAULFEILD, 2nd Baron (1587-1640), who took his seat in parliament, 1634, after the Lord Chancellor of Ireland had moved to know the pleasure of the House, whether he should be admitted to this place, having brought neither writ of summons nor patent; whereupon it was resolved that his lordship should be admitted, inasmuch as they were all satisfied that he was a Lord of Parliament.

His lordship, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1620, wedded Mary, daughter of Sir John King, Knight (ancestor of the Earls of Kingston), and had issue,

TOBY, his successor;
ROBERT, successor to his brother;
WILLIAM, created Viscount Charlemont;
George;
Thomas;
John;
Anne; Mary; Margaret.

His lordship, Master-General of the Ordnance, 1627-34, was succeeded by his eldest son, 

TOBY, 3rd Baron (1621-42), who also succeeded his late father as Governor of Charlemont Fort, 1640, and there resided with his company of the 97th Regiment of Foot, in garrison.

This fort was a place of considerable strength and importance during the rebellion of 1641; but his lordship suffered himself to be surprised, in that year; and being made prisoner, with his whole family, was subsequently murdered, by the orders, it is said, of Sir Phelim O'Neill.

This unfortunate nobleman, dying unmarried, was succeeded by his brother, 

ROBERT, 4th Baron (1622-42), who died a few months afterwards from an overdose of a prescription of opium, and was succeeded by his next brother,

WILLIAM, 5th Baron (1624-71), who apprehended Sir Phelim O'Neill and had him executed for the murder of his brother, the 3rd Baron.

His lordship having filled, after the Restoration, several high and confidential situations, was advanced to a viscountcy, 1655, as Viscount Charlemont, of County Armagh.

He wedded Sarah, second daughter of Charles, 2nd Viscount Drogheda, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his successor;
Toby;
John;
Mary; Alice; Elizabeth.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

WILLIAM, 2nd Viscount (c1655-1726); who opposed with zeal the cause of WILLIAM III against JAMES II.

His lordship espoused Anne, daughter of the Most Rev James Margetson, Lord Archbishop of Armagh, by whom he had, with five daughters, five sons to survive infancy, namely,

JAMES, his successor;
Thomas, Governor of Annapolis;
Charles (Rev), Rector of Donaghenry;
John, MP;
Henry Charles.

He died after enjoying the peerage more than half a century, in 1726, and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

JAMES, 3rd Viscount (1682-1734), MP for Charlemont, 1703-4 and 1713-26, who married Elizabeth, only daughter of the Rt Hon Francis Bernard, of Castle Mahon, County Cork, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in Ireland, and had issue,

Francis;
JAMES, of whom hereafter;
Alice.

The elder son, Francis, wedded Mary, only daughter of John, Lord Eyre; though was lost, with his lady, infant child, and servant, in a hurricane, during his passage to Ireland from London, in 1775, to fulfil his parliamentary duties as MP for Charlemont.

The Hon Francis Caulfeild left issue, Colonel James Eyre Caulfeild, born in 1765, and Eleanor, who married William, 3rd Earl of Wicklow.

The 3rd Viscount was succeeded by his only surviving son,

JAMES, 4th Viscount (1728-99), KP, who was advanced to an earldom, in 1763, in the dignity of EARL OF CHARLEMONT.

1st Earl of Charlemont KP.  Photo Credit: National Portrait Gallery

His lordship wedded, in 1768, Mary, daughter of Thomas Hickman, of Brickhill, County Clare (descended from the noble family of Windsor, Viscounts Windsor, which title became extinct in 1728), and had issue,

FRANCIS WILLIAM, his successor;
James Thomas;
Henry, MP, of Hockley Lodge, Co Armagh;
Elizabeth.

He was a distinguished patriot, and had the honour of commanding-in-chief the celebrated Volunteer Army of Ireland in 1779.

The 1st Earl was a Founder Knight of the Order of St Patrick.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

FRANCIS WILLIAM, 2nd Earl (1775-1863),  KP, who espoused, in 1802, Anne, daughter of William Bermingham, and had issue,

James William, styled Viscount Caulfeild (1803-23);
William Francis (1805-7);
Maria Melosina; Emily Charlotte.

His lordship died without surviving male issue, when the family honours reverted to his cousin,

JAMES MOLYNEUX, 3rd Earl (1820-92), KP (son of the Hon Henry Caulfeild, second son of 1st Earl), Lord-Lieutenant of County Tyrone, MP for Armagh, 1847-67.

His lordship married twice, though both marriages were without issue, when the earldom and barony expired, and the remaining peerages devolved upon his kinsman,

JAMES ALFRED, 7th Viscount (1830-1913), CB JP DL, of Loy House, Cookstown, and Drumcairne, County Tyrone,

Captain, Coldstream Guards; fought in the Crimean War; Vice Lord-Lieutenant of County Tyrone, 1868; High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1868; Comptroller of the Household of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1868-95; Honorary Colonel, 3rd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; Usher of the Black Rod of the Order of St Patrick, 1879-1913.

JAMES EDWARD,  8th Viscount  (1880-1949), PC DL, was elected to the Northern Ireland Parliament as a Senator, where he sat from 1925-37, and was sometime Minister for Education.

James Alfred Caulfeild, 7th Viscount (1830–1913);
James Edward Caulfeild, 8th Viscount; (1880–1949);
Charles Edward St George Caulfeild, 9th Viscount (1887–1962);
Robert Toby St George Caulfeild, 10th Viscount (1881–1967);
Charles St George Caulfeild, 11th Viscount (1884–1971);
Richard St George Caulfeild, 12th Viscount (1887–1979);
Charles Wilberforce Caulfeild, 13th Viscount (1899–1985);
John Day Caulfeild, 14th Viscount Charlemont (1934–2001);
John Dodd Caulfeild, 15th Viscount (b 1966).

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, the Hon Shane Andrew Caulfeild (b 1996).

*****

The Charlemonts were a Patrick family, three members of whom were Knights of St Patrick.

Lord Charlemont was the greatest landowner in County Armagh, owning 20,695 acres a century ago.

He also owned almost 6,000 acres in County Tyrone.

During more recent times, the 8th Viscount, PC (NI), DL (1880-1949) was elected to the House of Lords as a Representative Peer; and to the Northern Ireland Parliament as a senator.

He sat in the NI Senate from 1925-37 and was Minister for Education for all but the first of his years.

Lord Charlemont's main country seat, near the village of Moy, County Tyrone, was Roxborough Castle.

The exquisite gates are all that remain.

The Castle was burnt by Irish republicans in 1922.

Charlemont Fort, on the County Armagh side of the river, was burnt in 1920.

Charlemont Fort, with Roxborough Castle in the Background

Subsequently Lord Charlemont lived at another residence, Drumcairne, near Stewartstown in County Tyrone.

It is thought that he eventually moved to the sea-side resort of Newcastle in County Down.

He inherited the titles from his uncle in 1913.

Having no children, the titles passed, on his death, to a cousin.

The 14th Viscount lived in Ontario, Canada and the viscountcy is still extant with the present 15th Viscount Charlemont. 

First published in December, 2009.